Model Railroading on the Cheap

   The overhead crane at Hillton can be used for all kinds of heavy material. Here the workmen are unloading an electrical generator from a flat car to the low-boy truck. They are to take it up town for auxiliary power in the Hotel Hilton. I am not sure how they will unload it when…

   My Old Fossil Fuel Dealer is another example of trying to do too much in too small a space. This is a retail fuel delivery business that receives fuel oil in tank cars and coal in hoppers for retail delivery, but only one car at a time. They must have additional storage tanks underground…

Here is a little, light fun story.    In keeping with the penguin and cold storage theme I accidentally found a couple oversized penguins in a novelty store that I thought I could get some mileage from. Detailing fodder can turn up in all kinds of places.  My story has it that the owner of…

   I always get excited when seeing farm tractors moving on the railroad. This is probably due to my close association with them as a youth. As my friends and I were rail fanning the PRR Horse Shoe Curve last June, standing on the mainline overlook at Cassandra Pa., waiting for our pizza, an eastbound…

   I thought I would try making a scene that will speak to the camera and tell a story without using any words.  Let the observer use his imagination.  Here is an example: On second thought, maybe I should fill in the details.    This car of gravel had been at the unloading conveyor on…

   The Yardley and Hillton RR like most railroads got out of the passenger hauling business after everyone got automobiles. Passenger service by this time had diminished to just a single combined passenger/baggage/caboose on the daily except Sunday mixed train.   Here is a photo of what may have been the last passenger train to…

    On a small layout, small industries are more important than big ones.   I have a small industry that takes up practically no real estate. This phantom loading service industry has no building or loading dock at all. The owner just works off the tail-gate of his pickup truck removing old blocking etc. from gondola…

Holden Bank Scene Here is a scene found in downtown Holden City almost any day of the week.    The time is shortly after 9AM. Folks are coming to the bank. The bank building has smooth polished marble facing, made by printing the homemade graphic on glossy photo paper. No two of those multiple colored…

   I used to have  a two stall engine house that fits over the two tracks here, but I like using a single stall house because the service track alongside can have some scenery tidbits and an occasional carload of fuel or supplies. The locos are both custom decorated. The yellow Athearn SW7 Western Railway…

   Here at the Hillton Freight Station end ramp it appears the supervisor has arrived in his pickup truck to watch his men unload those new John Deere tractors. These plastic tractors were cheap enough to get several for flatcar loads and supporting scenery. It sure is exciting when many small detail items fall into…